What to do when you snap a cable

It's extremely satisfying to fix mechanical issues - more power!
Hehe anyway, earlier today I heard the dreadful *snap, klunk and slack* of the breaking of a cable.
To recap, I have an AVL but this how to should help others too.
Step 1 : Don't panic!
Step 2 : ok don't panic so long as you have -
Replacement cable
Crimper or swager tool
Fine wire cutters or hacksaw
Crimps or swages
Step 3 : measure the length of the broken wire (take off about 1cm for the stretch and break) from swage to swage.


Then measure the loopy bit (I cut my eyelet out but cutting the wire on one side) and add both to the first measurement.


Step 4 : cut the wire.


Step 5 : thread the new wire through one side of the swage.


Loop through anything it needs to be attached to.


Down through the other side of the swage.


And tighten the wire.


Step 6 : use your crimper tool (thanks Belly!!) to squash the swage securely. (The round bits at the top and bottom)


I thought I had decent arm strength but putting it on the floor with your foot on it is much easier.


Also my crimping tool is narrow so I needed to crimp twice.


Finished!


And the other end (a better job than the first!).


Done!


Step 7 : placing back on the loom. Around the wheely thing in the box. Needs a bit of a gentle ease in.


Into the clippy thing.


The other end goes down the appropriate looking hole.


Join back onto the turn buckle.


Important! Adjust the turnbuckle to make sure the peddle height is correct.


Step 8 : happy weaving ensues!


--melly

Green deliciousness

Another 15 lovelies based on a green warp.


Hand-dyed, hand woven. It's going to be a cosy winter!

And thanks heaps Belly for all that winding! The workshop's starting to look organised!

--melly

Grateful Friend

Today was my time  to pay Mel back for all her help over the past year or would that be a few years. 

So Mel put me to work winding balls of wool from skeins. 

Mel was using up her "stash" that she has had for some time now. Mel's mum used to have a great yarn business but has sold it on to Sue. Love the habu threads Sue  is carrying and need to get my order in.  

http://www.rainbowwools.com/

We did solve the problems of the world while I wound, Mel threaded the next warp and got some other chores done.

So thanks Mel and I still need to wind a lot more balls for you. 

Belly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Pink Production

This is what 16 scarves around the beam looks.



And this is all cut off ready to finish.



--melly

New Colours!

So here is a little sample from my new scarf warp. So nice to be working with lush deep colours again!










--melly

What not to do to your loom part 2

And the saga continues. The lesson I think is to always ask the manufacture of your loom what products to use when you are preforming any kind of maintance on the loom. Car or cooking grease is a no no.

The cleaning process has almost finished. So hopefully we will have it up and running in the next week or so. It has been a slow process with working long hours and family commitments but hey life goes on. 
 

Can you believe this is felt and should not be glistening

Felt of the timber

Cables YUK!

Throw blankets

I can't believe it. These babies have been waiting for so long to be woven - and here they are!



--melly